COMMERCIAL · GLOSSARY
Deadhead
Industry slang for any flight segment operated with no revenue passengers, including positioning and recovery legs.
IN PRACTICE
Every charter flight has the potential to create a deadhead. If a customer charters a one-way from Teterboro to Aspen, the aircraft typically has to return to base — that return is a deadhead unless it can be sold as an empty leg.
Deadhead time is included in the operator's revenue calculation, which is why one-way charters are typically priced at 1.5-2x the equivalent block-hour cost of a round trip.
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Frequently asked
What does Deadhead mean in private aviation?
Industry slang for any flight segment operated with no revenue passengers, including positioning and recovery legs.
How does deadhead work in practice?
Every charter flight has the potential to create a deadhead. If a customer charters a one-way from Teterboro to Aspen, the aircraft typically has to return to base — that return is a deadhead unless it can be sold as an empty leg.
When is deadhead the right option for a charter client?
Deadhead fits flyers who match the usage pattern described above. For one-off trips, on-demand charter is usually more flexible; for recurring travel, structured products like jet cards or fractional programmes can be more predictable.
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